The 61st Annual Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show will be held at Catoctin High School, located at 14745 Sabillasville Road in Thurmont, on September 8-10. All activities and entertainment are free all weekend!
Entry of exhibits will be Thursday, September 7, from 6:00-9:00 p.m., and Friday, September 8, from 8:30-11:30 a.m., in the new gymnasium and in the agriculture department area. Commercial exhibits may be entered on Friday, September 8, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. The show will open to the public at 6:00 p.m.
On Friday night, the 2017-2018 Catoctin FFA Chapter Ambassador will be announced. In addition, the 42nd annual community flag ceremony will be held; this year’s program will honor the 50th anniversary of St. John’s Christian Preschool and the 50th anniversary of WTHU Radio. The baked goods auction will begin immediately following the program at 8:15 p.m., and the grand champion cake, pie, and bread will be sold at 9:00 pm.
On Saturday, September 9, the show is open from 9:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Activities include a Market Goat, Beef, Sheep and Swine Fitting & Showing Contest, from 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., at the school’s Ag Center.
At 10:00 a.m., the Blue Ridge K-9 will present a dog obedience demonstration and Canine Citizen program on the front lawn of the high school, followed by the Pet Show at 10:30 a.m. Categories include: cat with prettiest eyes; cat with longest whiskers; cutest cat; best trained pet; dog with wiggliest tail; prettiest dog (25 pounds and under); prettiest dog (26 pounds and over); best costumed pet; pet with most spots; largest pet (by height); most unusual pet; smallest pet.
On both days, there will be a petting zoo, from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., with face painting by Kathy McBride and pony rides sponsored by the Thurmont Riding Club. The farm animals display will include “Abel” a Brown Swiss, who is fourteen years old and weighs approximately 2,600 pounds, owned by Joe and Ruth Biser; Alpacas owned by Lynn Cherish of Baggy Britches Farm, LLC; Emus owned by James and Peggy Royer of Old Orchard Emus; and a sow and litter of pigs owned by Chip Long. John Kinnaird of Thurmont will have many historical pictures from the Catoctin area displayed in the small gym.
At 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Elower-Sicilia Productions will have a dance program in the auditorium; at 4:00 p.m., Noble Path Martial Arts will have a program in the small gymnasium. The Thurmont Grange will serve their roasted turkey and country ham buffet on Saturday night, from 3:00-7:00 p.m. Musical entertainment will be performed in the auditorium by the Catoctin Mountain Boys (6:00-7:00 p.m.) and Taylor Brown’s Elvis Tribute Show (7:00-9:00 p.m.).
The 43rd Annual Catoctin FFA Alumni Beef, Sheep & Swine sale will begin on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. in the Ag Center.
Activities begin on Sunday, September 10, at 9:00 a.m. with the Dairy Goat Show, then the Dairy Cattle Show, followed by the 20th Annual Decorated Animal Contest at noon. The Catoctin FFA alumni chicken barbque will be held in the cafeteria at noon. At 1:00 and 2:00 p.m., the Thurmont Academy of Self Defense will have a martial arts program in the small gymnasium. The 38th Annual Robert Kaas Horseshoe Pitching Contest will begin at 1:00 p.m. near the softball field, and the Log Sawing Contest will be held at 1:00 p.m. in the Ag Center area tent. Another new and fun feature is a kiddie pedal tractor pull (for ages 5-10) at 1:30 p.m. in the Ag Center area, with prizes being awarded. The Catoctin Mountain Boys will perform from 12:30-1:30 p.m., and Taylor Brown’s Elvis Tribute Show will be from 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Food and refreshments will be available throughout the weekend by the Thurmont Lions Club and the Catoctin High School Cheerleaders, while the Catoctin High School Junior Class will be selling ice cream.
Exhibits must be removed on Sunday, September 10, between 3:00-6:00 p.m. Any remaining entries must be picked up on Monday, September 11, from 9:00 a.m.-noon in the Ag Department behind the school.
For more information about this year’s classes to enter and the activities schedule, visit www.thurmontemmitsburgcommunityshow.webs.com, and click on “Exhibitor Entry List” and “Schedule of Activities.” Entry tags will also be available for exhibitors to complete and bring with their entries at the Thurmont Library, Thurmont Feed Store, Thurmont Economic Development Office, and Eyler’s Flea Market, located in Thurmont; and at Eplus, Jubilee Market, and Zurgable’s Hardware in Emmitsburg.
The Community Show is sponsored by the Thurmont Grange, Catoctin FFA Chapter, Catoctin FFA Alumni, the Maryland State Grange and the Maryland State Agricultural Fair Board.
